Mumbai: The US on Thursday described Pervez
Musharraf`s remark that American anti-terror funds to Pakistan
were diverted to strengthen defences against India as a `very
serious allegation`, the veracity of which it will find out.
"The US takes these allegations very seriously. We will
find (out) veracity of these allegations," US Ambassador
Timothy J Roemer told reporters here.
"First of all, I would say that this is an allegation
made by a former official. He is currently a private citizen.
The US takes these types of allegations very seriously,"
Roemer said.
"It is an allegation at this point. So till we find out
the veracity and accuracy about it, it is something that our
government is looking into, (we are) taking it very seriously
and checking into it as an allegation," he said.
Roemer said his country treats LeT as a regional and
global threat for the US and India. "The US is committed in
this region to pursue, deter and defeat LeT and other
terrorist threats," he said.
"There are five, probably six, suspects currently being
held in Islamabad in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai terror
attacks," he said. "It is extremely important that these six
people be brought to justice and put behind bars and receive
sentences commensurate with their crimes against India, US and
the world," he said.
"I hope that in future the action on 26/11 includes
people like Hafiz Saeed. Recently he was put into an Interpol
red flag list," Roemer said. The US is expending personal
treasure and resources to help dismantle infrastructure of
terrorism in this region, he added.
In the 26/11 attacks, people of India suffered
tremendous hardship and loss and devastation, Roemer said.
"It is time to reflect on the common enemy of the US and
India. We share concerns about LeT, al Qaeda and Taliban and
the threat emanating from that part of the world and we are
working closer and closer together as two great powers to take
on a common enemy and bring blood-thirsty perpetrators of
these attacks to justice," Roemer said.
"When scores of Indians are killed, when six Americans
are killed, this is a priority for our country and I know it
is a priority for India," he said.
The Indo-US relationship is an extremely positive
relationship, Roemer said. "Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
was here, expressing deep interest on part of our government.
She came to India, went to a conference in Bangkok and then
went home. She did not go to any other place in the area. She
values this Indo-US bilateral relationship.
"President (Barack) Obama told me this is one of the most
important and best relationships we will have in the world."
Describing the Indo-US relationship as "very robust
and growing", Roemer said there is bipartisan support in the
US Congress for this relationship.
"People-to-people ties between the two countries are
extraordinary. Over 95,000 Indian students study in US
universities and colleges and over a million Americans visit
India," he said.
"President Obama feels it cannot only be a positive
relationship on energy security but on several other issues,"
he said, adding "you are going to see even more of these
tangibles and programmes coming with Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh`s visit to the US in November."
Recounting his recent meeting with Obama, Roemer said,
"he said, Tim, you know, there are a billion people in India.
I said yes, Sir, may be a bit more. The president told me that
he would like me to meet as many of these people as possible.
He said I want you to get out of Delhi and go to places like
Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad."
Roemer, who interacted with business leaders this
morning about trade and investment, said there exist many
opportunities in the areas of energy security and climate
change.
The US accords "highest degree of importance" to its
relationship with India, he said, adding national security
issues would continue to be a top priority for the Obama
administration.
Bureau Report
